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Abstract

We performed in vivo THz transmission imaging study on a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model for early human breast cancer detection. With a THz-fiber-scanning transmission imaging system, we continuously monitored the growth of human breast cancer in mice. Our in vivo study not only indicates that THz transmission imaging can distinguish cancer from the surrounding fatty tissue, but also with a high sensitivity. Our in vivo study on the subcutaneous xenograft mouse model will encourage broad and further investigations for future early cancer screening by using THz imaging system.

Figures (6)

T1-weighted MRI images: (a), (c) axial view; (b), (d) sagittal view. The images were acquired on the 5th day (a, b) and 35th day (c, d) after fat implantation, and the fat area was marked by red boundary.

(a) Schematic diagram of the THz fiber-scanning transmission imaging system. (b) Photograph of the T-ray imaging system. (c) A direct 2D (x-y) 10mm × 10mm scanning image of air. Power transmission was measured at different fiber bending angles, and the maximum angle-induced 1D fiber bending loss is about 10%. The S/N ratio of the imaging system is 105:1.

(a)-(e) Photos of a mouse taken during preparation: (a) A visible breast tumor with a size about 2.1mm×3.2mm×1.3mm developed on the 46th day after the cancer cell implantation; (b)-(c) Fat implantation; (d)-(e) Stretched mouse dorsal skin with area 15mm×10mm and sandwiched by two 2mm cover glasses. (f) In vivo THz imaging of a visible cancer in mouse dorsal skin. The color bar is defined as α from 1.4mm−1 to 2.1mm−1.

A series of THz images according to the screening time from the 13th day to the 33th day after the cancer cell implantation. Early cancer development was detected on the 23th day, and the induced absorption coefficient change was 0.25mm−1, corresponding to a cancer volume of 1.3mm3. For the images from the 23th day to the 33th day, the color bar was defined according to the maximum measured absorption coefficient, while from the 13th day to the 17th day, the image color bar was defined according to the 23th day.